Sludge removal apparatus



May 11, 1937. v, E. MccoY 2,080,146

' SLUDGE REMOVAL APPARATUS.

Filed June 10, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 11, 1937. I v v MGCQY I 2,080,146 I SLUDGE REMOVAL APPARATUS Filed June 10, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ver'LE/Vc Cray, 71 4240; he dim Mi? Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STATES SLTUDGEv REMOVAL APPARATUS Verl E. McCoy, Chicag Engineering Corpora o, 111., assignor to Wilson tion, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application June 10,

2 Claims.

This invention pertains to sludge removal apparatus for locomotive boilers, constituting an improvement over such prior inventions as the apparatus shown in the U. S. Patent No. 1,966,776,

issued to Lyndon F. Wilson, July 17, 1934, and my prior U. S. Patent No. 1,961,157, issued June 5, 1934.

i As set forth in the above noted Wilson patent,

there are great advantages in centrifugally separating steam from sludge water so that the two may be discharged separately and harmlessly into the atmosphere. It will be readily appreciated that where the separated steam is to be discharged in the atmosphere near the locomotive it may be particularly advantageous to commingle this separated steam with the exhaust steam and combustion gases being emitted from the locomotive stack so that this steam may be thrown high into the air with the assistance of the hot gases and exhaust steam and thus carried. with certainty far above the locomotive where it cannot, under any ordinary circumstances, be blown back upon the cab.

Also, because of the fact that it is diflicult to find space on the sides of the locomotive or elsewhere on their exterior surfaces for mounting additional equipment, there are real advantages in mounting the centrifugal separator in the closed chamber provided at the front end of the locomotive. In such a location, mounting the centrifugal separator concentrically about the exhaust steam nozzle has additional advantages.

Hence the general objects of the invention are to provide locomotive blow-off apparatus constructed and located to attain the several advantages alluded to above.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be discussed hereinafter.

The drawings show a single preferred embodiment of the invention which has been selected for the purpose of illustrating the nature of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents the side elevation of a locomotive showing my invention installed thereon;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail cross sectional view of a remote control valve operating mechanism for controlling the blow-off cock;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view looking down upon the separator; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring now in greater detail to the draw- 1935, Serial No. 25,765

ings, there is shown a locomotive boiler generally indicated as I having a sludge collecting pipe 2 lying close to the bottom of the barrel of the boiler and a blow-off valve, generally indicated as 3, located near the front end thereof. This valve is similar to that shown in my prior patent, above mentioned, including a port 4 to which the sludge collecting pipe is connected, a valve 5 for normally seating upon the valve seat 6, and an outlet pipe I from this blow-01f valve. Connected with the valve casing 8 is a casing 9 housing a bellows for operating the valve. Within the casing is a post 10 connected with the valve rod and secured to the interior of a bellows ll. Pipes I3 and I4 supply air for operating the blow-ofi valve under control of a two-way valve l5 located in the cab. For manual operation, a bifurcated hand lever l6 whose bifurcated end surrounds a reduced portion I! in the valve rod is provided. This blow-off valve and the operating mechanism therefor is preferably that which is shown in my prior Patent No. 1,961,157, above mentioned.

The method of operation of this valve may be determined by reference to the above mentioned patent. While some other form of a blow-off valve and operating mechanism therefor may be employed, it is found that this particular valve is especially adaptable for use in this invention.

The principle of operation of the separator is similar to that of the centrifugal separator shown in the above mentioned Wilson patent, including a cylindrical chamber I8 which, because of its large diameter, need not have a great height. It is mounted preferably on top of the plate 19 which is customarily found in locomotive front ends, this plate in conjunction with the vertical plate 2| causing the combustion gases from the fire tubes to flow beneath the plate l9 forwardly of the nozzle and thence upwardly and rearwardly to a point where the exhaust steam gases can assist in impelling them through the stack 22. If desired, the separator could be mounted below the plate or within an aperture provided in the plate but the construction shown is that which is at present preferred.

The sludge water containing steam at the existing boiler pressure is brought into the separator through the pipe I and is thence delivered tangentially into the peripheral portion of the chamber l8 and near the upper portion thereof. The water is thus given a centrifugal motion within the separator and as it flows along the outer wall of the separator it passes between that wall and an arcuate baffle 23. Room is thus provided for the escape of steam from the water and this steam will be found to escape readily through the aperture 24 provided at the bottom of the inclined wall 25, the latter, together with the horizontal wall 25', constituting a cover for the separator which is imperforate except at the central aperture 24. The sludge water from which the steam has escaped, flowing in the same direction centrifugally along the outer wall of the separator, will emerge through the discharge pipe 26 through the check valve 21 and thence down through the delivery pipe 28, preferably to a point beneath the locomotive. The boiler pressure by this time will have been almost wholly, if not wholly, removed from this sludge water and the water may then flow harmlessly to the roadbed, its fall being broken somewhat by a deflector or muffler 29 having apertures in its side walls and a closed bottom plate 3|. A conical member 30 open at'the bottom will baffle and deflect the water downwardly. It should be understood, of course, that this sludge discharge water may be discharged at some other point beneath the locomotive or may be diverted elsewhere if desired, the principal point to be considered is that it has been relieved of pressure and may be allowed to fall to the roadbed without injury thereto.

As the centrifugally separated steam emerges from the aperture 24 it will naturally escape through the locomotive stack 22. Its escape will be aided by the draft of the hot combustion gases and also, when exhaust steam is being emitted from the exhaust steam nozzle 32, the separated steam will escape upwardly therewith. In either event this separated steam is thus aided to rise to a greater height above the locomotive than it would without the assistance of the combustion gases or the exhaust steam. It will be understood that the exhaust steam nozzle referred to is the usual nozzle provided in locomotives for exhausting the steam from the cylinders.

The check valve shown in Fig. 3 is provided as a precautionary measure so that when the separator is not being used and no water is flowing outwardly through the pipe 26, the suction created in the front end by the steam from the nozzle 32 may not be able to draw air from the atmosphere in through the pipe 28 into the front end, as such an intaking of air would diminish the vacuum effect created by the exhaust steam and diminish the draft on the fire. Accordingly the check valve permits outward flow of water but will automatically close to prevent the inward flow of air. Locating the check valve within the front end will make sure that it will always remain at a high enough temperature so that water or condensation therein may not freeze. How ever, if one desires, the check valve may be located elsewhere, or some other means to prevent the sucking of air through the pipe 28 may be adopted.

The central aperture 33 in the bottom plate of the separator is intended to snugly surround the nozzle and to assist in providing a close fit at this point, the flange 34 is provided.

It will be understood that normally the valve 5 will be opened only occasionally to discharge sludge accumulations although the separator shown may be used in connection with a continuous discharge of sludge from the boiler, which might be accomplished by leaving the valve 5 slightly open continuously.

It should be understood that the nature of the invention is such that it may be embodied in structures which may differ in various respects from the disclosed preferred embodiment, and

that such variations and modifications are contemplated and are included in the invention defined in the claims which follow.

Having shown and described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a locomotive and the exhaust steam nozzle thereof, a centrifugal separator mounted concentrically about said nozzle, valve regulated means for conducting sludge from the bottom of the boiler tangentially into the separator, the separator having a central outlet for the escape of centrifugally separated steam in the vicinity of the path of exhaust steam emitted from said nozzle, and means for withdrawing water from said separator and delivering the same for discharge beneath the locomotive.

2. In combination with a locomotive having a horizontal flue gas bafile plate and an exhaust steam nozzle extending upwardly therethrough, means for centrifugally separating steam from sludge water positioned concentrically about said nozzle above the horizontal flue gas baflle plate, valve controlled means for delivering sludge water from the bottom of the boiler tangentially into said chamber, means for discharging separated steam centrally from said separator into the vicinity of the path of exhaust steam emitted from said nozzle, and means for discharging sludge water substantially freed from previously contained steam out of said separator and to a point beneath the locomotive.

VERL E. MCCOY. 

